Qualified bidders visit project site of Saudi Arabia’s first wind plant

Saudi Arabia’s Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) held a conference where it met with the 25 companies qualified to submit proposals to build the 400 MW Dumat Al Jandal wind plant in Al-Jouf.

REPDO arranged a field visit to the project’s site, the Saudi Ministry of Energy said in a statement.

Bidding for the project is set to close in January 2018. Bidders will have to abide by the technical criteria that came with the request for proposals (RFP), including meeting the 30 percent local content requirement.

On August 29, the energy ministry released the RFP for its first utility-scale wind power project within the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP).

Dumat Al Jandal project marks the second of two tenders for round one of the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP).

Round one of the NREP comprises 300MW of Solar PV in Sakaka, Al Jouf region, for which bidding will open on Oct. 3 and winning bids will be announced on Nov. 27.

Both projects are 100 percent private independent power producer (IPP) programs, which will be backed by 20-and 25-year power purchase agreements, respectively.

“The Dumat al-Jandal Wind Power and Sakaka Solar PV projects are set to provide a memorable economic boost to the area over the next few years through inwards investment, maintenance, distribution and supporting services” said Turki Al-Shehri, Head of REPDO.